Newsletter - Week 7 Term 1

Greenmeadows School 16 March 2022

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Tēnā koutou kātoa,

Another week, another newsletter with updates to the COVID guidelines! I've included the latest advice below - as always, please just get in touch if you are unsure about how these guidelines affect you or your whānau.

Although the onset of Omicron has been a little unsettling, it has been fantastic to welcome back 31 children and 2 staff members from isolation over the past few days. Whilst we are still being advised of students going into isolation, we anticipate that numbers will potentially balance out with those returning.

The children I have spoken to who have returned from isolation have all been excited to be back at school with their friends. To those of you who are home this week, stay strong, and we look forward to welcoming your tamariki back soon.

Ka kite anō,

Darren Holloway

Deputy Principal

WELCOME TO GMS

A very warm welcome to Isla Meech, Charlie Burnett, Tihan Gous, Ryder Salisbury and Melinda van Zyl the newest members of our Greenmeadows School community. Our roll is currently 443.

COVID-19 INFORMATION

Like all schools in our area we are continuing to experience a surge in COVID-related illness. We understand that it is a stressful time for many so we really appreciate those families that have kept us informed with regard to absence.

We currently have 71 children isolating.

KOWHAI: 14 household contacts, 5 positive cases.

POHUTUKAWA: 6 household contacts, 18 positive cases.

TOTARA: 15 household contacts, 13 positive cases.

STAFF: 1 household contacts, 3 positive cases.

At the time of writing we have only one class that has not received it's "first case" email which we have been sending out to affected classes. As stated in our previous newsletter, we must now accept that COVID has found its way into our school, and that we all need to be vigilant in monitoring for symptoms.

RETURNING TO SCHOOL

Please refer to the graphics below with regard to the recent changes to isolation guidelines. It can sometimes be confusing when you have several members of the whānau who have tested positive at different times. If you are unsure or would just like to check when it is safe to return, please get in touch with me or the office.

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GREEN THEMED MUFTI DAY

We have been flying the national flag of Ireland all this week. Thursday, 17th March is St Patrick's Day and we plan to celebrate by inviting everybody to wear green. If you choose to wear mufti we are asking for a gold coin donation, which we will add to Mr J's fundraising efforts for Brain Tumour Support New Zealand.

Mr Johnson will be celebrating St Patrick's Day by powering further south along the West Coast and I'm sure he'd appreciate a little bit of support ahead of his climb up Haast Pass. How far will our Gold Coin Trail stretch?

Let's put the GREEN in GREENMEADOWS! Even if you forget to wear mufti on Thursday you'll still be wearing green!

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ROAD PATROL

This is Evy Millar, who is one of our wardens who patrols the crossing on Osier Road. Like her colleagues, Evy started training for this role in Y5 and has had to pass two assessments in order to become a Road Patroller.

Evy is proud of her job and knows that she is helping to keep our children safe when crossing the road. Yesterday, she and Bella (her partner) crossed 127 children and their parents in the morning. It makes her feel undervalued when she sees parents crossing their children opposite the Dental Clinic.

This week we had a near miss reported by a passing motorist who had spotted children darting across the road a short distance from our crossing point. Please park considerately near our school and reinforce good road safety awareness with your children. Our staggered bells at the end of the day have eased congestion in the church cark park considerably.

Let's help Evy and her fellow patrollers to keep your kids safe!

OSCAR Annual General Meeting

OSCAR are holding their Annual General Meeting on Monday 8th of April at 5.45pm in the OSCAR rooms. All welcome.

NAPIER LIBRARIES HOME DELIVERY SERVICES

Stuck at home isloating? This service may be of use to you!

If you live in the Napier area and are unable to visit either Napier or Taradale Libraries, we may be able to set you up with a contactless delivery of items to suit you or your children's interests.

You may be eligible for this free service if:

You are unable to visit the library due to limited mobility, disability or illness

You are unable to visit the library due to Covid-19 restrictions

Please phone our team on 06 8344180, or visit our website for more information.

CHILD ABSENCES

If your child is going to be absent from school, please let the school know before 9.00am on that morning.

The absent text service is NO longer available. Please do not text.

To report your child being away please use the school app. Find the absence button then use the email function.

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REMINDER ABOUT PICKING YOUR CHILDREN UP DURING THE SCHOOL DAY & THE REQUIREMENT OF FACIAL COVERINGS

If you need to pick up your child during the school day, please call the office and let the office staff know you are here and at which gate you are waiting.

Carolyn or Sara will ring through to the classroom and have your child sent out to meet you. The office staff will sign your child out on your behalf.

If you do need to come into the office to collect your child from the sickbay or for some other reason, please make sure you are wearing a mask and have scanned in. Many thanks.